Fikayo Tomori has been backed to handle the pressures of a Yorkshire derby when he is handed a lead role in Hull City ’s defence away to Sheffield United this afternoon.

City’s frailties at the back have been laid bare over the last seven days, with both Nottingham Forest and Middlesbrough capitalising on a string of defensive lapses from Leonid Slutsky’s men.

The six goals conceded on home soil means the Tigers have now leaked 26 in total this season, a tally only eclipsed by the Championship’s bottom three clubs, Sunderland, Burton Albion and Bolton Wanderers.

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A 3-1 loss to Middlesbrough on Tuesday night was the latest setback and a seventh defeat of the campaign was compounded by Michael Hector’s sending off in the closing stages. The resulting one-match ban sees the central defender miss the trip to Sheffield United this afternoon and with Ondrej Mazuch also ruled out with a hamstring injury, Tomori is the only option to partner Michael Dawson.

Tomori started his first game in over a month when drafted in at right-back against Middlesbrough but Slutsky has no doubts the 19-year-old will relish the occasion at the Bramall Lane.

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“He’s a young player but he’s an experienced player,” said Slutsky, who had previously started Hector in all 15 of his league games in charge of City.

“He played last season on loan at Brighton, he played in the Under-20s World Cup final (with England), other games at international level.

“He also played some games in the starting XI in our team so I don’t think he will be extra nervous like a lot of young players.

“We’ve had a special theoretical lesson and explained how to play in this situation but he also experience of this role. For the national team (England under-21s) he plays as one of two central defenders. It is not a tactical problem.”

Fikayo Tomori in action for England's under-20s (Image: Getty)

Tomori will be the youngest player in City’s defensive line that also includes two 21-year-old full-backs in the shape of Ola Aina and Max Clark. Allan McGregor’s experience will provide support from behind but Slutsky admits his captain, Dawson, will have to lead by example.

“Michael Dawson has a big role to play, of course,” he added. “Today, three of the four players in defence will be very young. Michael’s position is very important in this situation because he must manage each of his young colleagues.”

Such are City’s defensive problems with Mazuch joining Stephen Kingsley in the treatment room, rookies Brian Lenihan and Josh Clackstone are expected to provide cover from the bench.